Shloka 36

Sāvitrī’s Report and Nārada’s Prognosis (सावित्र्याख्यान—सत्यवान्-गुणवर्णनं तथा अल्पायुषः पूर्वसूचना)

Devanagari script

कौसलयां च सुमित्रां च कैकेयीं च सुदु:ःखित: । अग्रे प्रस्थाप्य यानै: स शत्रुघ्नसहितो ययौ

Transliteration

Kausalyāṃ ca Sumitrāṃ ca Kaikeyīṃ ca suduḥkhitaḥ | agre prasthāpya yānaiḥ sa Śatrughnasahito yayau ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: Deeply afflicted with sorrow, he first sent Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī ahead in conveyances; then, accompanied by Śatrughna, he himself set out onward (on foot), bearing the weight of duty amid grief.

Word by Word

• कौसलयाम्: Kausalya
• कौसलयाम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसल्या
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सुमित्राम्: Sumitra
• सुमित्राम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्रा
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• कैकेयीम्: Kaikeyi
• कैकेयीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कैकेयी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• सुदुःखितः: very sorrowful
• सुदुःखितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुदुःखित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अग्रे: in front/ahead
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र

• प्रस्थाप्य: having sent/dispatching
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-स्था
• Form: Lyap (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund), having sent forth/dispatched

• यानैः: by vehicles/chariots
• यानैः: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: यान
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Plural

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• शत्रुघ्नसहितः: accompanied by Shatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नसहितः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शत्रुघ्न-सहित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Kausalyā
• Sumitrā
• Kaikeyī
• Śatrughna

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharma expressed as responsible care: even in personal anguish, one prioritizes the safety and dignity of dependents (sending the queens ahead) while oneself endures hardship, showing restraint, compassion, and duty over comfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates that, in a moment of intense sorrow, the central figure dispatches Kausalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī ahead using conveyances, and then proceeds afterward together with Śatrughna, personally taking the more difficult course.